I'm a Jason Bourne Fan

One of the funniest clips I have seen in a while. Thanks Jess, call me a copycat but I was rolling at my office today watching it.

Those who shirk, irk

Well today is my annual evaluation with Kiewit. I had to fill out several pages of forms critiquing myself and after doing it in pencil I realized I was being way too hard on me. Especially considering they can give raises based upon performance. So I went back through it the other day and w/o floating my boat, made it seem like they would be better off letting me stick around another year.

I have had an interesting past couple of weeks. Most people know that I love to talk to friends and touch base every so often. I have no intention of ever losing a friend. I work too hard on relationships and care too much to let them end. If I decide someone is worth investing time into, you can bet I will stick around. Unfortunately not everyone reciprocates this or has the same priorities. You know what, that's okay for the most part. I can handle it. They are friends, not family, and family does take priority.

What irks me is family who don't reciprocate. I have some extended family who I love, yes, but suck at relationships. If you have something fun to do, a new boat, outdoor activity, man they will be right there. But if you just want to see them, or they are in town and want them to come visit, or you want them to be your best man at your wedding, you know, after being your best friend since birth, and they push it aside and their dad has to make up an excuse for them that they can't afford it or something totally lame like that (after buying new skiis and an outfit), it gets old. I'm not just talking about one person, there are a few select ones. I guess if you have always been handed everything your whole life you shouldn't be expected to act any other way. Maybe just the fact that I'm writing this leads me to think that the problem is mine. However, I know that I am the one making an effort and despite the things that irk me, I will still be the one to reach out and make an effort the next time I am in town or the next time someone has a birthday I will call and wish them well. It would just be nice to not always be the giver.

Maybe that's why it means more to me when friends do things. They don't have to, you aren't family, yet they still do. I sure appreciate good friends.

Word Pet Peeves

I don't know how many people actually read my blog, nor do I care much. I do however, care about words people use when they type or spell. My mom called me Encyclopedia growing up because I liked to read and could spell. Perhaps she could have called me dictionary, because I get annoyed when easy words are misspelled or misused.

LOSE, not LOOSE -- Utah doesn't loose to BYU, they LOSE to BYU. One O, not two.
Loose indicates that something is not tight.

at least, not atleast--This is not one word, it is two.
If it is going to be cold, at least it could snow.

too, not to or two--Too can be used in place of the word also; Too can also be used for emphasis.
EX: That tree is too tall.
I want to go too(also).

a lot, not alot--The same principle applies here as it did with at least--there are two words being used, not one. A lot of people misuse these words.

should have, not should of--EX: My dad should have grown up in the depression because he likes to wear old and worn-out clothes.

there--a place or location
EX: Put it overe there.
their--indicates possession
EX: Yes, their house is painted blue.
they're--a conjunction using the words "they are"
EX: They're (They are) coming with us to the beach.
(thanks Kate)

I will continue to add these pet peeves to my list. Feel free to comment and add new words or phrases that annoy you.

Mr. Right he is not, Mr. Smart he is

So I don't know what is worse, the fact that I watched the Bachelor finale with my wife, or the fact that I didn't care that he didn't give the happy ending that our society so desperately craves. I read a good article (if there is such a thing regarding a forced reality show) on why the Bachelor did the right thing. I agree. Janna thought he should have at least kept one of them around to see if their relationship progressed and I do see the logic in that, but why continue to invest so much into something you don't see going anywhere? I am glad he didn't succumb to the pressures that were around him and throw in the towel. He followed his gut and usually when we do that it is the right thing to do.

Friends

While at BYU I made many good friends. There are many I still keep in touch with and there are a few that certainly we don't get to see enough of. Mark is one of those friends.

Life, Weather, Traffic, and Humor

Well I figured it wouldn't last. The temperature at worked went from 57 down to 46 degrees from 7am to 8am. After that I watched the barometer rise from in the 20 percent range up to 48%. This means the front has rolled in. With the wind it feels like it is about 27 degrees. Hopefully the snow holds off until we can get out of town tomorrow. I am supposed to get out of here around noon and hopefully we can get on the road before 2pm, otherwise we will be facing a bear of a traffic jam just to get out of town.

We are getting settled in the new place. It took me several days to get the dish up and find the right satellite. Unfortunately I had to do it in the dark since I rarely get home in the daylight. Janna keeps telling me she is ready to start painting, but I don't want to start that until all of the boxes are unpacked. Otherwise I will have 2 projects staring at me simultaneously.

Since it is Thanksgiving this week I have thought a lot about what I am grateful for. First is my family. They bring more joy to my life than anything. Having a wife who is willing and able to put up with me and raise our boys is priceless. Last Saturday she went to a get-together to sell Mod Bod clothes and was gone for about 5 hours. I asked her how much she made and said, "good, that's what I charge for watching the kids." Yes, of course I was kidding, but she responded with, "how much do you make every week?" I answered her and she said, "good, that's what I charge for watching them." Very funny.

Moving

We moved into our house this past Saturday. We are down to a van full of miscellaneous lamps, boxes, the crib, and "stuff." We really need those lamps though since none of the bedrooms have lights. Ugh. Luckily our headboard has lights and our bathroom lights up our room well enough to get our bed set up. We inherited a really nice king-size bed that the boys have been sleeping in along with another large (seems bigger than a queen) bed in the 4th bedroom.

One of the only things that has been rough on me is that I cannot find my boots for work. They were getting pretty roughed up and worn out, but I wanted to get boots when I was ready. We have a Red Wing Store close to work so it looks like I will be stopping by there at lunch.

I like having the house. I don't have to fight for a parking spot. I don't have to pay an extra $50 a month for a garage spot. We have leaves to rake up in the front yard when we get a rake. We have to get a couple garbage cans, the city doesn't provide them like they do in a lot of places. Oh well. We got $400 in gift cards to Lowe's from our Real Estate Agent and Lender. Those will be used quickly. Our bathroom will be one of the first projects we tackle. Luckily it is only about 32 SF so we will only need about 20 SF of tile. We will have to paint it and do something about all of the patching in the shower. Maybe we will retile the shower too. I would like to get some 18" tile and do the floor and shower together. The previous owner didn't clean anything so there is a lot of dust and grime--pretty gross. I don't think she had dusted in years.

So anyway, we are just about done. Janna is going back to the apartment to clean today and turn in the keys. Stone has been a great helper. He loves to fill the boxes with whatever is available. We just need to get him out of his shell and get him new friends and a preschool.